Mustangs edge Lakemen in sea-saw contest

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Cole Callard puts up a shot against Wilson defender Brock Lepsch during the Mustangs home court win over the Lakemen this evening.

In a tight sea-saw battle, Medina avenged an earlier season overtime road loss by nipping visiting Wilson 68-63 in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game this evening.

There were no less than three ties and six lead changes in the hectic final period alone as Medina regained the lead for good at 62-60 on a basket by Jayzon Wills off a turnover. A three by Jerrell Nealy had pulled the Mustangs even at 60-60 with 1:51 remaining.

Cole Callard followed up with a basket upping the Mustangs lead to 64-60.

Medina’s Jayzon Wills and Wilson’s Josiah Lawrence battle for a rebound.

Wilson pulled back to within one at 64-63 on a three by Aidan Neumann but Medina answered with two clutch free throws apiece by Callard and Christian Moss in the final 18 seconds to lock up the narrow win.

Nealy took game high scoring honors with 25 for Medina as Preston Woodworth added 15 on five threes, Moss 13, Callard 7, Wills 6 and Kolton Fletcher 2.

Neumann tallied 23 and Shamus George 20 to lead Wilson as Brock Lepsch added 9, Ryan Hough 6, Colton Frerichs 3 and Josiah Lawrence 2.

Setting the tone for the evening, Wilson held a slender 18-17 lead at the end of the opening period. George scored 8, Lepsch hit two threes and Neumann had a pair of baskets for the Lakemen during that stretch.

Nealy erupted for 15 in the period, including four threes, to keep the Mustangs close.

The contest was deadlocked at 32-32 at the half as George had two late baskets to pull Wilson even. Woodworth hit two threes and Nealy had a three-point play for Medina in the stanza.

The Mustangs did build up a five point, 44-39, lead midway through the third period as six players contributed baskets including threes by Callard and Woodworth.

Wilson answered with a 7-0 run to regain a 46-44 lead but Fletcher hit a bucket as time expired to pull Medina back into a 46-46 tie.

That set the stage for the wild final period which saw a tie or a lead change with almost every score.

Moss had 7 points, including a three-point play, Woodworth hit two threes and Nealy one and Wills had a big basket off a turnover for Medina down the stretch.

Neumann had 10 points, including two threes, George a pair of baskets and Frerichs a three in the final stanza  to keep the Lakemen right in the game.

Medina finishes the N-O campaign at 7-5 while Wilson is 7-4 with a make-up game against Roy-Hart to go on Monday.

Medina’s Preston Woodworth goes in for a layup as Chase Martin defends for Wilson.

Barker 60, Roy-Hart 54
Barker bested Roy-Hart 60-54 as Anthony Taliaferro scored 24, Owen Harris 13, Donovan Hefferon 11 and Logan Murrell 7.

Dan Aquilina took game high honors for Roy-Hart with 30.

Barker held leads of 27-21 at the half and 49-30 after three quarters.

N-O Standings: Akron 11-1, Albion 8-3, Wilson 7-4, Medina 7-5, Barker 3-9, Newfane 2-9, Roy-Hart 2-9.